IL-2R-associated polypeptide and DNA molecules coding therefor

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a polypeptide, p 43 , which is associated with the interleukin- 2  receptor (IL- 2 R). It binds specifically to the β and γ subunits of IL- 2 R and is further capable of binding NAD + . The invention is further related to nucleic acid molecules coding for p 43  and to antibodies specifically binding to p 43.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the polypeptide p43, to polypeptides which contain binding sites for at least two of NAD⁺, interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) β-chain, or IL-2R γ-chain, to nucleic acid molecules containing the coding information for the aforementioned polypeptides, to antibodies specific for the aforementioned polypeptides, to antisense oligonucleotides, to pharmaceutical compositions containing the aforementioned polypeptides or nucleic acids, and to methods of producing the aforementioned polypeptides.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Interleukin 2 (IL-2) plays a critical role in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells (27, 29). IL-2 exerts its multiple biological activities through its binding to a specific cell surface receptor (IL-2R) (30), including protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activation, and nuclear proto-oncogene expression which may be critical for cellular proliferation (16, 29). IL-2R contains at least three distinct subunits; the α-chain, the β-chain and the γ-chain (5, 9, 28). Among these subunits, both the IL-2R β- and γ-chains belong to a newly identified superfamily of cytokine receptors, characterized by four conserved cysteines and the sequence Trp-Ser-X-Trp-Ser (the “WS motif SEQ ID NO: 18”) in their extracellular domains (1, 2). Notably, none of the IL-2R subunits possesses any known catalytic activity such as PTK activity.

The expression of different combinations of the IL-2R subunits gives rise to various forms of IL-2R, each of which exhibiting different binding affinity to IL-2 (28). The “high-affinity” IL-2R (Kd; 10⁻¹¹) consists of the heterotrimer α-, β- and γ-chains, the “intermediate-affinity” IL-2R (Kd; 10⁻⁹) results from the heterodimer β- and γ-chains, whereas the “low-affinity” IL-2R (Kd; 10⁻⁸) can be generated by expression of the α-chain alone. IL-2R β-chain possesses the largest cytoplasmic domain, consisting of 288 amino acids (a.a.) and was shown to play a critical role in IL-2 signal transduction (8). When the human IL-2R β-chain cDNA was introduced into murine IL-3-dependent pro-B cell line BAF-B03, which normally expresses the endogenous IL-2R α- and γ-chains, but not the β-chain, these cells were capable of proliferating in response to IL-2 (3, 8). Further expression studies with deletion mutant cDNAs of the IL-2R β-chain revealed that a restricted cytoplasmic region of the IL-2R β-chain, designated the “serine-rich” region (S-region), is indispensable for c-myc gene induction and for mitogenesis following IL-2 stimulation of the BAF-B03 cells (26). Another cytoplasmic region of the IL-2R β-chain, rich in acidic amino acids, designated the “acidic” region (A-region), is required in addition to the S-region for the src-family PTK activation and p21^(iras) activation and for c-foslc-jun gene induction following IL-2 stimulation of BAF-B03 cells (6, 7, 17, 24, 26). Several lines of evidence suggest that the IL-2R γ-chain may also be critical for IL-2-induced signal transduction (29). Moreover, IL-2R γ-chain is suggested to be a shared common component among the IL-2, IL-4 and IL-7 receptors and possibly other cytokine receptors (14, 15, 21, 23). Mutations of IL-2R γ-chain have been found in X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency patients who show defects in T-cell development (22), providing evidence for the critical role of IL-2R γ-chain in cytokine signaling. Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that the functional cooperation between the cytoplasmic domains of IL-2R β-chain and γ-chain is critical for IL-2 signaling (11, 19, 20).

Because of the importance of IL-2R-mediated processes for normal body functions and disease, there is a need of better understanding of these processes as well as the need of new tools for influencing them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new IL-2R-associated protein, p43, and nucleic acid molecules containing the coding information for p43. Preferably, the p43 polypeptide has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 (cf. FIGS. 1A-1B):

Met Glu Phe Leu Lys Thr Cys Val Leu Arg Arg Asn Ala Cys Thr Ala Val Cys Phe Trp Arg Ser Lys Val Val Gln Lys Pro Ser Val Arg Arg Ile Ser Thr Thr Ser Pro Arg Ser Thr Val Met Pro Ala Trp Val Ile Asp Lys Tyr Gly Lys Asn Glu Val Leu Arg Phe Thr Gln Asn Met Met Met Pro Ile Ile His Tyr Pro Asn Glu Val Ile Val Lys Val His Ala Ala Ser Val Asn Pro Ile Asp Val Asn Met Arg Ser Gly Tyr Gly Ala Thr Ala Leu Asn Met Lys Arg Asp Pro Leu His Val Lys Ile Lys Gly Glu Glu Phe Pro Leu Thr Leu Gly Arg Asp Val Ser Gly Val Val Met Glu Cys Gly Leu Asp Val Lys Tyr Phe Lys Pro Gly Asp Glu Val Trp Ala Ala Val Pro Pro Trp Lys Gln Gly Thr Leu Ser Glu Phe Val Val Val Ser Gly Asn Glu Val Ser His Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Thr His Thr Gln Ala Ala Ser Leu Pro Tyr Val Ala Leu Thr Ala Trp Ser Ala Ile Asn Lys Val Gly Gly Leu Asn Asp Lys Asn Cys Thr Gly Lys Arg Val Leu Ile Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Gly Val Gly Thr Phe Ala Ile Gln Val Met Lys Ala Trp Asp Ala His Val Thr Ala Val Cys Ser Gln Asp Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Arg Lys Leu Gly Ala Asp Asp Val Ile Asp Tyr Lys Ser Gly Ser Val Glu Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Leu Lys Pro Phe Asp Phe Ile Leu Asp Asn Val Gly Gly Ser Thr Glu Thr Trp Ala Pro Asp Phe Leu Lys Lys Trp Ser Gly Ala Thr Tyr Val Thr Leu Val Thr Pro Phe Leu Leu Asn Met Asp Arg Leu Gly Ile Ala Asp Gly Met Leu Gln Thr Gly Val Thr Val Gly Ser Lys Ala Leu Lys His Phe Trp Lys Gly Val His Tyr Arg Trp Ala Phe Phe Met Ala Ser Gly Pro Cys Leu Asp Asp Ile Ala Glu Leu Val Asp Ala Gly Lys Ile Arg Pro Val Ile Glu Gln Thr Phe Pro Phe Ser Lys Val Pro Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Val Glu Arg Gly His Ala Arg Gly Lys Thr Val Ile Asn Val Val,

or SEQ ID NO: 4 (cf FIG. 1C, mouse p43):

Met Gly Val Leu Lys Thr Cys Val Leu Arg Arg Ser Ala Cys Ala Ala Ala Cys Phe Trp Arg Arg Thr Val Ile Pro Lys Pro Pro Phe Arg Gly Ile Ser Thr Thr Ser Ala Arg Ser Thr Val Met Pro Ala Trp Val Ile Asp Lys Tyr Gly Lys Asn Glu Val Leu Arg Phe Thr Gln Asn Met Met Leu Pro Ile Ile His Tyr Pro Asn Glu Val Ile Ile Lys Val His Ala Ala Ser Val Asn Pro Ile Asp Val Asn Met Arg Ser Gly Tyr Gly Ala Thr Ala Leu Asn Met Lys Arg Asp Pro Leu His Met Lys Thr Lys Gly Glu Glu Phe Prd Leu Thr Leu Gly Arg Asp Val Ser Gly Val Val Met Glu Cys Gly Leu Asp Val Lys Tyr Phe Gln Pro Gly Asp Glu Val Trp Ala Ala Val Pro Pro Trp Lys Gln Gly Thr Leu Ser Glu Phe Val Val Val Ser Gly Asn Glu Val Ser His Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Thr His Thr Gln Ala Ala Ser Leu Pro Tyr Val Ala Leu Thr Ala Trp Ser Ala Ile Asn Lys Val Gly Gly Leu Ser Asp Arg Asn Cys Lys Gly Lys Arg Ala Leu Ile Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Gly Val Gly Thr Phe Ala Ile Gln Val Met Lys Ala Trp Gly Ala His Val Thr Ala Val Cys Ser Lys Asp Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Arg Lys Leu Gly Ala Asp Glu Val Ile Asp Tyr Thr Leu Gly Ser Val Glu Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Leu Lys Leu Cys Ala Phe Ile Leu Asp Asn Val Gly Gly Ser Thr Glu Thr Trp Ala Leu Asn Phe Leu Lys Lys Trp Ser Gly Ala Thr Tyr Val Thr Leu Val Thr Pro Phe Leu Leu Asn Met Asp Arg Leu Gly Val Ala Asp Gly Met Leu Gln Thr Gly Val Thr Val Gly Thr Lys Ala Met Lys His Leu Trp Gln Gly Val His Tyr Arg Trp Ala Phe Phe Met Ala Ser Gly Pro Tyr Leu Asp Glu Ile Ala Glu Leu Val Asp Ala Gly Lys Ile Arg Pro Val Ile Glu Arg Thr Phe Pro phe Ser Glu Val Pro Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Val Glu Arg Gly His Ala Arg Gly Lys Thr Val Val Asn Val Val.

The invention is further related to polypeptides with p43-like activity or functional derivatives of p43, especially polypeptides which contain a binding site for at least NAD⁺and IL-2R β-chain, NAD⁺and IL-2R γ-chain, or IL-2R β-chain and IL-2R γ-chain. Functional derivatives may be variants, fragments, chemical derivatives, or fusion proteins of p43.

In a further aspect, the present invention is related to nucleic acid molecules containing the coding information for p43, polypeptides with p43-like activity, or functional derivatives. Preferably, a nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention is a nucleic acid molecule containing the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 (cf. FIGS. 1A-1B):

AGAATGGACA GAATACTGAC TGGAACGTTA ATTCGAGCAT TTCATATGCG AAGAGCGGAA TAACAGTTCC GTATTCTTCT TTCAGTTTCT CCATTAGATT AGCTTCATTT TCGAAGGCTC CGTTTTGCAT GCTTAATTTT GAAACTAGCC CGTGGTTTGG CAGAATTTGA CTGAATTCAG GGGTGAGAGT TTGATCCAGT CCAAGTGTAT TTGAATTTGA GCACGCAGTT CAACCAGTGT TTACA ATG GAA TTT CTG AAG ACT TGT GTA CTT AGA AGA AAT GCA TGC ACT GCG GTT TGC TTC TGG AGA AGC AAA GTT GTC CAA AAG CCT TCA GTT AGA AGG ATT AGT ACT ACC TCT CCA AGG AGC ACT GTC ATG CCT GCT TGG GTG ATA GAT AAA TAT GGG AAG AAT GAA GTG CTT CGA TTC ACT CAG AAC ATG ATG ATG CCT ATT ATA CAC TAT CCA AAT GAA GTC ATT GTC AAA GTT CAC GCT GCC AGT GTA AAT CCT ATA GAC GTT AAT ATG AGA AGT GGT TAT GGA GCT ACA GCT TTA AAT ATG AAG CGT GAT CCT TTA CAC GTG AAA ATC AAA GGA GAA GAA TTT CCT CTG ACT CTG GGT CGG GAT GTC TCT GGC GTG GTG ATG GAA TGT GGG CTT GAT GTG AAA TAC TTC AAG CCT GGA GAT GAG GTC TGG GCT GCA GTT CCT CCT TGG AAA CAA GGC ACT CTT TCA GAG TTT GTT GTA GTC AGT GGG AAT GAG GTC TCT CAC AAA CCC AAA TCA CTC ACT CAT ACT CAA GCT GCC TCT TTG CCA TAT GTG GCT CTC ACA GCC TGG TCT GCT ATA AAC AAA GTT GGT GGC CTG AAT GAC AAG AAT TGC ACA GGA AAA CGT GTT CTA ATC TTA GGC GCT TCA GGC GGA GTT GGT ACT TTT GCT ATA CAG GTA ATG AAA GCA TGG GAT GCT CAT GTG ACA GCA GTT TGC TCC CAA GAT GCC AGT GAA CTT GTA AGG AAG CTT GGT GCA GAC GAT GTA ATT GAT TAC AAA TCT GGA AGT GTG GAA GAG CAG TTG AAA TCC TTA AAA CCA TTT GAT TTT ATC CTT GAT AAT GTT GGC GGA TCC ACT GAA ACA TGG GCT CCA GAT TTT CTC AAG AAA TGG TCA GGA GCC ACC TAT GTG ACT TTG GTG ACT CCT TTC CTC CTG AAC ATG GAC CGA TTG GGC ATA GCA GAT GGC ATG TTG CAG ACA GGA GTC ACT GTA GGT TCA AAG GCA TTA AAG CAT TTC TGG AAA GGA GTC CAT TAT CGC TGG GCA TTT TTC ATG GCC AGT GGG CCA TGT TTA GAT GAC ATT GCA GAA CTG GTG GAT GCG GGA AAG ATC CGG CCA GTT ATT GAA CAA ACC TTT CCT TTT TCT AAA GTT CCA GAA GCC TTC CTG AAG GTG GAA AGA GGA CAC GCA CGA GGA AAG ACT GTA ATT AAT GTT GTT TAAATAAAAA TGCAGTTTAG TGATTAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAA,

or a degenerate variant of said nucleic acid molecule containing the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or a nucleic acid molecule capable of hybridizing to a nucleic acid molecule having SEQ ID NO: 1, or a nucleic acid molecule containing a part of the nucleotide sequence of any of the foregoing nucleic acid molecules, or a fragment of any one of the foregoing nucleic acid molecules. Preferably, such a nucleic acid molecule containing a part of SEQ ID NO: 1 contains the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 9:

ATG GAA TTT CTG AAG ACT TGT GTA CTT AGA AGA AAT GCA TGC ACT GCG GTT TGC TTC TGG AGA AGC AAA GTT GTC CAA AAG CCT TCA GTT AGA AGG ATT AGT ACT ACC TCT CCA AGG AGC ACT GTC ATG CCT GCT TGG GTG ATA GAT AAA TAT GGG AAG AAT GAA GTG CTT CGA TTC ACT CAG AAC ATG ATG ATG CCT ATT ATA CAC TAT CCA AAT GAA GTC ATT GTC AAA GTT CAC GCT GCC AGT GTA AAT CCT ATA GAC GTT AAT ATG AGA AGT GGT TAT GGA GCT ACA GCT TTA AAT ATG AAG CGT GAT CCT TTA CAC GTG AAA ATC AAA GGA GAA GAA TTT CCT CTG ACT CTG GGT CGG GAT GTC TCT GGC GTG GTG ATG GAA TGT GGG CTT GAT GTG AAA TAC TTC AAG CCT GGA GAT GAG GTC TGG GCT GCA GTT CCT CCT TGG AAA CAA GGC ACT CTT TCA GAG TTT GTT GTA GTC AGT GGG AAT GAG GTC TCT CAC AAA CCC AAA TCA CTC ACT CAT ACT CAA GCT GCC TCT TTG CCA TAT GTG GCT CTC ACA GCC TGG TCT GCT ATA AAC AAA GTT GGT GGC CTG AAT GAC AAG AAT TGC ACA GGA AAA CGT GTT CTA ATC TTA GGC GCT TCA GGC GGA GTT GGT ACT TTT GCT ATA CAG GTA ATG AAA GCA TGG GAT GCT CAT GTG ACA GCA GTT TGC TCC CAA GAT GCC AGT GAA CTT GTA AGG AAG CTT GGT GCA GAC GAT GTA ATT GAT TAC AAA TCT GGA AGT GTG GAA GAG CAG TTG AAA TCC TTA AAA CCA TTT GAT TTT ATC CTT GAT AAT GTT GGC GGA TCC ACT GAA ACA TGG GCT CCA GAT TTT CTC AAG AAA TGG TCA GGA GCC ACC TAT GTG ACT TTG GTG ACT CCT TTC CTC CTG AAC ATG GAC CGA TTG GGC ATA GCA GAT GGC ATG TTG CAG ACA GGA GTC ACT GTA GGT TCA AAG GCA TTA AAG CAT TTC TGG AAA GGA GTC CAT TAT CGC TGG GCA TTT TTC ATG GCC AGT GGC CCA TGT TTA GAT GAC ATT GCA GAA CTG GTG GAT GCG GGA AAG ATC CGG CCA GTT ATT GAA CAA ACC TTT CCT TTT TCT AAA GTT CCA GAA GCC TTC CTG AAG GTG GAA AGA GGA CAC GCA CGA GGA AAG ACT GTA ATT AAT GTT GTT,

or a degenerate variant of SEQ ID NO: 9.

Preferably, a nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention is capable of hybridizing to a nucleic acid molecule having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 under conditions which select for a homology, or sequence identity, of more than 50%, more preferably more than 70%, more preferably more than 80%, more preferably more than 90%. Preferably, such nucleic acid molecules capable of hybridizing contain the coding information for polypeptides with p43-like biological and/or immunological activity, said polypeptides, more preferably, having at least one of the binding sites of p43 for NAD⁺, IL-2R β-chain, or IL-2R γ-chain, more preferably at least two of said binding sites.

A further aspect of the present invention is a vector containing the nucleotide sequence of any one of the foregoing nucleic acids, especially when said nucleotide sequence is operationally linked to an expression control sequence as in expression vectors.

A further aspect of the present invention is a host cell carrying a vector as described, especially an expression vector. Such a host cell can be a procaryotic or eucaryotic cell. Preferably, such a host cell is a bacterial cell, a yeast cell, or a mammalian cell. More preferably, said host cell is an E. coli cell or a COS cell.

Accordingly, a still further aspect of the present invention is a method of production of p43, functional derivatives of p43, or polypeptides with p43-like activity, by recombinant expression. Such a method is characterized by cultivating a host cell as described, said host cell carrying an expression vector containing the coding information for p43, a functional derivative of p43, or a polypeptide with p43-like biological activity, under conditions where said coding information is expressed by said host cell, and isolating the expressed polypeptide.

A further aspect of the present invention is an antibody molecule specific for p43, a functional derivative of p43, or a polypeptide with p43-like activity. Such an antibody molecule can be a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody, a complete immunoglobulin or a fragment thereof, especially a Fab′ or F(ab)₂ fragment, a recombinant antibody or antibody fragment, for example a recombinant single-chain antibody (scFv), a chimeric, bispecific or humanised antibody.

Preferably, such an antibody molecule is specific for one of the following amino acid sequences:

SEQ ID NO:10: CKVVQKPSVRRISTTSPRST

SEQ ID NO:11: CYKSGSVEEQLKSLKPFDFI

SEQ ID NO:12: CGGSTETWAPDFLKKWSGAT,

SEQ ID NO: 11 being preferred.

A still further aspect of the present invention is an antisense oligonucleotide corresponding to a part of the nucleotide sequence of any nucleic acid molecule according to the present invention. One preferred embodiment of such an oligonucleotide has the sequence SEQ ID NO: 8: 5′-GTCTTCAAAACGCCCATCCT-3′.

A still further aspect of the present invention is a pharmaceutical composition containing p43, a functional derivative of p43, or a polypeptide with p43-like activity, or a nucleic acid containing the coding information for any one of the foregoing polypeptides, or an oligonucleotide corresponding to a part of the nucleotide sequence of said nucleic acid molecule. Such a pharmaceutical composition can be used for the treatment and diagnosis of IL-2-related disorders.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, a “polypeptide with p43-like activity” is a polypeptide which exhibits a biological activity which is essentially similar to p43. This means that is has one or more, preferably at least two of its structural or catalytic properties in common with p43, for example with respect to the binding properties of p43 to NAD⁺, IL-2R β-chain, and/or IL-2R γ-chain. As used herein, a “functional derivative” of p43 is a compound which possesses a biological activity (either functional or structural) that is substantially similar to a biological activity of p43. Examples of biological activities include the ability to bind to a natural ligand of p43, preferably to bind at least two of NAD⁺, IL-2R β-chain, or IL-2R γ-chain. A molecule is said to be “substantially similar” to another molecule if both molecules have substantially similar structures or if both molecules possess a similar biological activity. The “functional derivatives” of p43 include fragments, variants, chemical derivatives or fusion proteins of p43. The term “fragment of p43” is meant to refer to any polypeptide subset of that molecule. The term “variant of p43” is meant to refer to a molecule substantially similar in structure to either the entire molecule, or to a fragment thereof, provided that the variant has at least one biological activity that is either similar to an activity of p43 or inhibitory to an activity of p43. A variant of p43 may differ from p43 by the substitution, deletion or addition of one or more amino acids, preferably 1 to 10 amino acids. Preferably, a variant has the ability to bind at least two of NAD⁺, IL-2R β-chain, or IL-2R γ-chain. A “chemical derivative of p43” is a molecule which has been derived from p43 by a chemical reaction, for example iodination, acetylation, or linkage to a radioisotope or toxin. A “fusion protein of p43” is a polypeptide which has been generated by recombinant expression of all or a part of the p43 gene fused to all or part of another gene or nucleic acid containing in-frame coding information. A “degenerate variant” of a nucleic acid molecule is a second nucleic acid molecule which has a different nucleotide sequence as compared to the first nucleic acid molecule and codes for the same amino acid sequence as the first nucleic acid molecule, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code. A “fragment” of a nucleic acid molecule means a second nucleic acid molecule which has a nucleotide sequence representing a part of the nucleic acid sequence of the first nucleic acid molecule.

One way of carrying out the present invention is to isolate cDNAs whose protein products can interact with IL-2R γ-chain. To screen for human cDNA encoding proteins able to interact with IL-2R γ-chain, the two hybrid screening procedure described by (37) and (4) can be employed. In principle, DNA coding for IL-2R γ-chain (28), or a part of it, is fused to a DNA coding for the N-terminal domain of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GAL4 protein, said N-terminal domain being capable of binding to specific DNA sequences (UAS_(G)). This construct can then be incorporated into an expression vector and transformed into a yeast strain which is deficient in GAL4. A cDNA collection which is to be screened can be incorporated into an expression vector, wherein the individual cDNA molecules are fused to DNA coding for the transcriptional activation domain of GAL4. The resulting constructs are transformed into the same yeast strain which has been pretransformed with the IL-2R γ-chain construct. In yeast cells which carry the cDNAs of interest, namely cDNAs coding for polypeptides able to bind to IL-2R γ-chain, those molecules bind to the IL-2R γ-chain polypeptides which are expressed in the same cell, thus bringing the two GAL4 domains (the DNA binding domain fused to IL-2R γ-chain and the transcriptional activation domain fused to the cDNA of interest) together. As a result of this interaction, transcription of genes regulated by GAL4/UAS_(G) occurs. This can be employed for a suitable selection system, for example using the well-known β-galactosidase/galactose system. For example, LexA protein and IL-2R γ-chain fused gene can be constructed and transformed into appropriate yeast cells. The resultant transformant cell can be sequentially transformed with a pACT human cDNA library (4), and transformants can be subjected to the screening procedure. Transformants can be placed under selection, and surviving colonies can be screened for their ability to produce β-galactosidase. Positive clones consisting of a partial open reading frame fused to the GAL4 transcriptional activation domain can be identified. Using the cDNA insert of such a positive clone as probe, the overlapping cDNAs can be obtained. A full-length cDNA clone may be obtained or constructed from overlapping fragments by standard procedures. cDNAs obtained this way can then be used to screen other cDNA libraries, for example from other species like mouse, to identify related polypeptides. This can be performed by standard procedures as well.

Given the information of the present invention, especially the sequence information according to FIGS. 1A-1B and FIG. 1C, the polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules of the present invention can be produced by standard procedures. A nucleic acid molecule with the nucleotide sequence according to FIGS. 1A-1B, for example, can be produced by chemical synthesis. An alternative way would be to chemically synthesize an oligonucleotide or DNA fragment corresponding to a part of the nucleotide sequence as outlined in FIGS. 1A-1B and to screen an appropriate cDNA library or genomic library by hybridization. Detailed protocols how to design such an oligonucleotide or DNA fragment, how to generate a library, and how to screen such a library by hybridization with the oligonucleotide or DNA fragment can be found in standard laboratory manuals, for example in (32), especially in chapters 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12, the content of which shall be incorporated into this specification by reference. Therein, it is also taught how to adjust the appropriate hybridization conditions for a given probe, for example conditions which select for perfect matching (homology of 100%), or conditions which select for homologies of 50%, 70%, 80% or 90% (32, pages 11.45-11.57). As an example, using a human p43 cDNA as a probe, hybridization in 3×SSC at 65° C. could select mouse p43 cDNA which has a homology of about 90% on the amino acid level. Alternatively, a nucleic acid containing the coding information for p43, or a fragment thereof, can be generated from a cDNA library by polymerase chain reaction according to standard laboratory protocols (32, chapter 14).

With a nucleic acid coding for p43 or a functional derivative thereof in hands, especially the coding sequence according to FIGS. 1A-1B (starting with A at position 246 and ending with T at position 1433 of the nucleotide sequence of FIGS. 1A-1B), the expert can produce the polypeptide by recombinant expression according to standard protocols either in procaryotic or eucaryotic host cells (see, for example, 32, especially chapters 16 and 17). For this purpose, the nucleic acid molecule containing the coding sequence of interest is incorporated into an expression vector where it is operationally linked to an expression control sequence. This expression vector is adapted to the special requirements of the host cell of choice. Expression may be regulatable. The expression vector is then introduced into the host cell of choice. Upon cultivation under appropriate conditions, the host cells synthesize the p43 polypeptide or functional derivative thereof. The expression system may permit secretion of the expressed polypeptide into the culture medium. The polypeptide can then be isolated from either the host cells or, when the expressed polypeptide is secreted into the medium, from the culture medium. Specific examples for the expression of p43 or is functional derivatives thereof are described below.

Given the information of the present invention, especially the sequence information of FIGS. 1A-1B, the expert may construct functional derivatives of p43. This can be achieved by constructing a DNA molecule containing the coding information for a functional derivative, incorporating this DNA molecule into an expression vector, introducing this expression vector into a host cell and then expressing said DNA molecule coding for said functional derivative. For example, the expert can produce a fragment of a DNA molecule coding for p43, said DNA fragment containing only a part of the complete sequence, and express this fragment. For a functional analysis of the resulting polypeptide fragment, the expert can perform binding studies with the natural ligands of p43, NAD⁺, IL-2R β-chain, or IL-2R γ-chain, either as described below, or with similar methods. Preferably, fragments of p43 retain at least one, more preferably at least two of the binding sites for NAD⁺, IL-2R β-chain, or IL-2R γ-chain. For the production of variants, the expert can modifiy a DNA molecule containing all or part of the complete coding information for p43 by standard procedures, for example site-directed mutagenesis (32, especially chapter 15; 33, chapter 11, p 279-295), and express the thus modified DNA molecule as described. As an example, variants may be characterized by substitution, insertion or deletion of one, two, three, or more amino acids, as compared to p43 as described. After expression, the thus generated variant polypeptide can be tested whether it is functional as described. For the production of chemical derivatives of a given polypeptide, standard procedures may be used as well (see, for example, 33, chapter 9, p 225-245, and chapter 10, p 247-277). The generation of fusion proteins is described in the examples below.

Given the information of the present invention, especially the sequence information according to FIGS. 1A-1B, the expert can produce antibodies specific for p43, or finctional derivatives thereof, according to standard procedures (34, especially vol. 1, chapters 2, 3, 4). For use as an antigen, for example, a synthetic peptide representing a part of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4, or FIGS. 1A-1B, can be synthesized and used in an immunization protocol, optionally linked to a carrier. Another example for generating an antigen is the recombinant expression of p43 or a functional derivative thereof, optionally as a fusion protein, for example in E. coli. The expressed polypeptide or fusion protein—optionally purified—can then be used in an immunization scheme. Specific antibodies or—in the case of monoclonal antibodies—hybridomas which produce specific antibodies can then be selected by appropriate methods (35). Antibodies may either be monoclonal or polyclonal. Instead of an intact immunglobulin, fragments of immunglobulins may be used, for example Fab′ or F(ab)₂ fragments. The production of recombinant antibodies or antibody fragments, chimeric antibodies, humanised antibodies, bispecific antibodies or single-chain antibodies for a given antigen are state of the art. Antibodies may be coupled to other agents, for example radioisotopes or toxins. Antibodies specific for p43, or finctional derivatives thereof, are useful tools for studying the mechanism of IL-2-induced cellular events or can be used to block or impair the transmission of the IL-2-induced signal.

Antisense oligonucleotides can be chemically synthesized according to standard procedures.

P43, functional derivatives thereof, nucleic acids containing the coding information for p43 or functional derivatives thereof, antibodies specific for p43 or fuictional derivatives thereof, or antisense oligonucleotides corresponding to parts of the nucleotide sequence coding for p43 or functional derivatives thereof can be used as drugs for the manufacture of pharmaceutical compositions for therapy or diagnosis of IL-2-related disorders. The molecules of the present invention can be formulated according to known methods, wherein these materials are combined in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier vehicle. Suitable vehicles, and their formulation, optionally with other human proteins included, e.g. human serum albumin, are described, for example, in (36). The pharmaceutical compositions may be administered to patients intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, enterally, or parenterally. Administration may be by continous infusion, or by single or multiple boluses. The dosage will vary depending upon such factors as the patients age, weight, height, sex, general medical condition, disease, etc. In general, it will be in the range of from about 1 pg/kg body weight to 10 mg/kg body weight of patient.

Recombinantly produced p43 or functional derivatives thereof may be also used to study the mechanism of IL-2-induced signal transduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C depicts the nucleotide sequence and complete predicted amino acid sequence of p43. (A-B) The nucleotide (SEQ ID NO:1) and predicted amino acid (SEQ ID NO:2) sequence of human p43. The amino acid sequence is indicated in single-letter code. Conserved residues of predicted NAD⁺ binding domain are underlined. Nucleotide numbers are on the left, and amino acid numbers on the right. (C) Alignment of human (SEQ ID NO: 2) and mounse p43 (SEQ ID NO: 4) amino acid sequences. The region of predicted NAD⁺binding domain shown is boxed.

FIG. 2. Depicts the homology between p43 and Dehydrogenase members. Sequences of Alcohol dehydrogenase, (SEQ ID NO:13) Lactate dehydrogenase (SEQ ID NO:14) and Glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase (SEQ ID NO:15) are aligned to human (SEQ ID NO:16) or mouse p43; (SEQ. ID NO:17) numbering is with respect to human p43. Identity with human or mouse p43 is indicated in open boxes.

FIG. 3. Depicts a blot which shows the p43 mRNA expression in human tissues. Human tissue blot (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calf.). Molecular sizes are indicated on the left (in kilobases).

FIGS. 4A-4B. Depicts blots which show the association of p43 with IL-2R in COS cells. (A) Association of p43 with IL-2R γ-chain. Cell lysates were prepared from COS cells; COS cells transfected with CD4γ plus LCK tag, CD4γ plus LCK-p43, CD4γM1 plus LCK tag or CD4γM1 plus LCK-p43. Aliquots of the respective cell lysates were immunoprecipitated with anti-CD4 antibody (OKT4) followed by anti Lck immunoblotting. (B) Association of p43 with IL-2R β-chain. Cell lysates were prepared from COS cells; COS cells transfected with LCK-p43 plus CD4γ, CD4γM1, CD4β, CD4βA or CD4βS.

FIG. 5. Depicts a graph which shows the effect of p43 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on the IL-2 induced DNA synthesis. FWT-2 cells were analyzed for their ability to incorporate [³H] thymidine in the presence of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide after IL-2 stimulation. The data are represented as the average of triplicate determinations.

FIG. 6. Depicts a radiogram which shows binding to p43. [³²P] NAD⁺ was incubated with the filter, which was transferred with ovalbumin, the recombinant p43 and alcohol dehydrogenase proteins, in the binding buffer (see Materials and Methods). Then, the filter was washed and exposed.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Two Hybrid Screening and cDNA Isolation

Unless otherwise indicated, the protocol was adapted according to (4). For yeast two-hybrid screening, the open reading frame of human IL-2R γ-chain cytoplasmic region (28) was fused to the LexA DNA binding domain in the vector pBTM116 (4) by the following procedure; synthesized oligonucleotide primers (sense: SEQ ID NO: 5: 5′-ATTTCCCGGGGGAACGGACGATGCCCCGAA-3′, antisense: SEQ ID NO: 6: 5′-CTTCTGTCGACGGATTGGGGTTCAGGTTTC-3′), which contained SmaI or SaI site, respectively, were used for PCR amplification of the cDNA encoding IL-2R γ-chain cytoplasmic region. The fragment was cut by SmaI and SaI and ligated with pBTM116. The resultant plasmid was cut by PstI and ligated to remove the C-terminal half region of γ-chain. The resultant plasmid was transformed into the CTYLD yeast strain as bait. This transformant strain was sequentially transformed with a B-cell derived pACT human cDNA library (4) which was kindly obtained from Dr. S. Elledge, and 1×10⁶ transformants were analyzed by the standard method as described (4). Rare surviving colonies were screened for their ability to produce β-galactosidase. One positive clone was identified. Sequence analysis of the clone termed clone 36 encodes a partial open reading frame of ˜1.4 kb fused to the GAL4 transcriptional activation domain. Using this, insert as probe, a human cDNA library generated from Jurkat cell mRNA was screened to obtain a full length cDNA for p43 coding sequence. For the isolation of the human full length cDNA, the λgt11 cDNA library was prepared with poly (A)+RNA from TPA-induced Jurkat cells (a human T cell leukemia line), according to standard procedures (32). For screening, probe DNA was prepared by XhoI enzyme treatment (cutting) of p43 cDNA obtained in the two hybrid screening. Five overlapping clones were characterized and found to possess inserts from 0.5-2 kb. DNA sequencing was carried out using the dideoxynucleotide chain termination method. The clone representing the longest insert coding sequence was sequenced. The clone contained a 2.0 kb cDNA segment that overlapped about 1.4 kb with clone 36, extended about 0.6 kb further to the 5′ end, and contained the AUG initiation codon. This revealed a potential open reading frame of 396 amino acid-polypeptide (FIGS. 1A-1B) with a predicted molecular size of 43 kd. We called this gene product, p43. A computer-assisted sequence search with the GenBank database revealed that the sequence of p43 bears no significant homology to any known protein, except a partial similarity in a NAD⁺ binding domain.

In addition, to obtain the mouse p43 cDNA, a cDNA library generated from mouse spleen cells mRNA was utilized and screened with human p43 cDNA fragment as probe. For the isolation of mouse p43 cDNA clone, the hybridization was performed using the EcoRI-cleaved insert from the full length human p43 cDNA clone as a probe and using a mouse cDNA library as described (38), and the filters were washed in 3×SSC at 65° C. (SSC buffer was prepared according to ref. 32, p. B.12). Screening of the cDNA library from mouse spleen with human p43 cDNA yielded a clone of highly related sequence. The predicted human and mouse p43 amino acid sequences are highly related, showing ˜90% identity at the protein level (FIG. 1C). The amino acid sequence of NAD⁺ binding domain is conserved in both human and mouse p43 (FIG. 1C and FIG. 2).

Expression of p43 mRNA detected by Northern blot analysis was ubiquitous to all human tissues tested. The p43 mRNA is approximately 2.0 kb in length and was most abundant in skeletal muscle (FIG. 3).

Example 2

Association of p43 with IL-2R γ-chain in Mammalian Cells

As mentioned above, we isolated an IL-2R γ-chain associated molecule, p43, using yeast two-hybrid system. However we did not know whether p43 can associate with IL-2R γ-chain in mammalian cells. To confirm the binding of p43 and IL-2R γ-chain in mammalian cells, we constructed two chimeric proteins linking p43 to the specific antibody recognized N-terminal region of p56^(lck) (LCK-p43) and IL-2R γ-chain to the extracellular domain of CD4 (CD4γ). The expression plasmids, CD4γ and LCK-p43, were transiently co-transfected into monkey COS7 cells and then the intermolecular association was analyzed by immunoprecipitation with OKT4 and following western blotting analysis with anti-Lck antiserum (for details, see Example 6; see also ref. (7)). LCK-p43 and LCK tag were expressed in the transfected COS cells as assessed by anti-Lck antiserum immunoblotting of whole cell lysates (data not shown). FIG. 4A shows that IL-2R γ-chain bound to LCK-p43, but not to control LCK tag or the truncated IL-2R γ-chain, which contains only the transmembrane region, indicating a direct association of the two proteins in mammalian cells.

Example 3

IL-2R β-chain Also Associates with p43

Because IL-2R γ-chain and β-chain are associated and share important functions in IL-2 signal transduction, we determined whether IL-2R β-chain also associates with p43. To confirm the association of these molecules, we further constructed the chimera genes fusing IL-2R β-chain, or mutant β-chain, to CD4 (CD4-IL-2Rβ, CD4-βS, CD4-βA). These plasmids and Lck-p43 were cotransfected into monkey COS7 cells and the intermolecular association measured (cf. Examples 2, 6). FIG. 4B shows that p43 can associate with not only IL-2R γ-chain but also IL-2R β-chain. Interestingly, the p43 was tightly associated with IL-2R β-chain through the S-region which is the critical region for IL-2-mediated signal transduction.

Example 4

Synthesis of Oligodeoxynucleotides and Measurement of [³H] Thymidine Incorporation

S-oligodeoxynucleotides were synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems). The sequence of the sense and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides are: SEQ ID NO: 7: 5′-CAGGATGGGCGTTTTGAAGA-3′ and SEQ ID NO: 8: 5′-GTCTTCAAAACGCCCATCCT-3′, respectively. The FWT-2 cell, which is BAF-B03-derived cell line expressing wild-type human IL-2R β- and γ-chains, was used in this experiment. After continuously growing cells were washed with PBS, the cells were distributed into 96-well plates at an initial concentration of 1×10⁴ per well. An oligomer (5 μM or 10 μM) was added with or without IL-2 (2 nM). After 20 hrs incubation, the cells were pulse-labeled with 1 μCi of [³H] thymidine (20 μCi/mmol) (NEN Research Products) 4 hrs prior to harvest.

The effect of p43 sense and antisense oligomers in [³H] thymidine incorporation after IL-2 stimulation as a parameter of growth was evaluated as shown in FIG. 5 . The experiments have been repeated at least three times. It is evident that the p43 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide partially inhibits the [³H] thymidine incorporation (˜30%). On the other hand, no effect was observed using sense oligodeoxynucleotides. These results suggest that p43 molecule alters the IL-2 signal partially, but does not inhibit the full scale signal. It remains to evaluate the presence of redundant associated molecules, which can compensate for the absence of p43 in the presence of antisense oligonucleotides.

Example 5

NAD⁺ Binding Assay

As mentioned earlier, p43 has partial homology to NAD⁺binding proteins, such as alcohol dehydrogenase. To confirm whether p43 can bind NAD⁺, we performed NAD⁺ binding assay. We first tested the binding of NAD⁺to recombinant p43 produced in bacteria. The complete open reading frame of p43 was fused to 6xHis tag sequences, and the resulting chimeric protein was purified from overexpressing bacterial strains by affinity chromatography on Ni-column. For the recombinant E. coli expressing p43, the p43 chimeric protein fused to the 6xHis affinity tag was constructed using vector, 6HisT-pET11d, which was kindly obtained from Mr. Hashimoto (Rockefeller University). Plasmid was transformed into E. coli strain BL21/pLysS, and recombinant p43 was purified using Ni-column (Invitrogen). Purified p43 and control proteins (ovalbumin and alcohol dehydrogenase) were applied to SDS-PAGE (10-20% gradient gel), and electrophoretically transferred onto PVDF membrane filters. After soaking in the binding buffer [50 mM Tris-HCl pH7.5, 1 mM EDTA, 5 mM MgCl₂, 0.3% (v/v) Tween 20] at room temperature for 1 hr, the membrane filters were incubated with [³²P] NAD in the binding buffer at 20° C. for 18 hrs. The filters were then washed with the binding buffer three times and exposed to X-ray film. As shown in FIG. 6, we detected the NAD⁺binding ability of p43. On the other hand, its binding ability could be completely abolished in the presence of deleted excess cold NAD.

Example 6

Immunoprecipitation and Immunoblotting Analysis

For immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting of IL-2R and p43, chimeric genes were constructed as follows: the CD4β, CD4βA, CD4βS, CD4γ and CD4γM1 chimeric receptor expression plasmids, which bear CD4 extracellular and transmembrane domains and the cytoplasmic domains of IL-2R β-chain, IL-2R β-chain lacking the internal “S-region” and the “A-region”, IL-2R γ-chain, and the membrane proximal 7 amino acids of the cytoplasmic domain of IL-2R γ-chain, respectively, were constructed as described previously (18). Briefly, the CD4β and CD4γ chimeric receptors are comprised of human CD4 extracellular/transmembrane domains, fused in frame with the cytoplasmic domains of IL-2Rβ and IL-2Rγ chains respectively, using the two pairs of synthesized oligonucleotides. The CD4β and CD4γ cDNAs were inserted into the EcoRI/XbaI cleaved pEF vector (25) (pEF-CD4β and pEF-CD4γ) respectively. To construct the expression vectors (pEF-CD4βA and CD4βS) for the chimeric molecules, CD4βA and CD4βS, the pdKCRA and pdKCRS vectors (8), respectively, were digested with NcoI and BamHI. After digestion, the respective NcoI-BamHI fragments (˜0.9Kb) were inserted into the NcoI/BamHI-cleaved pEF-CD4β vector. The LCK-p43 chimeric molecule is comprised of the p56^(lck) N-terminal region (˜100 amino acids), mutated in the myristilation site from Gly to Ala, fused in frame with p43 using the PCR fragment of LCK. The LCK-p43 cDNA was inserted into pEF vector (25). The constructs were confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing.

The experiments for transient cDNA expression studies in COS cells were performed as described previously (7). The immunoprecipitation using anti-CD4 antibody (OKT4) and immunoblotting analysis using anti p56^(lck) antiserum were also performed as described previously (18).

Example 7

Production of Antibodies

Polyclonal antibodies have been raised against the following synthetic peptides corresponding to different sequence motifs of p43:

SEQ ID NO: 10: CKVVQKPSVRRISTTSPRST (a.a. 23-41)

SEQ ID NO: 11: CYKSGSVEEQLKSLKPFDFI (a.a. 255-273)

SEQ ID NO: 12: CGGSTETWAPDFLKKWSGAT (a.a. 278-296)

The protocol of antigenic conjugate preparation, immunization and antibody titer determination is as follows:

The protocol for the conjugation of sulfhydryl-containing peptides to the carrier protein KLH was utilized. In brief, 1 mg of peptide and keyhole limpet hemocyamine (KLH, cf. 34, vol. I, p. 26) in 500 μl of PBS were mixed with 500 μl of complete Freund's adjuvant using Luer-lock connected syringes. After testing the proper mixing of the conjugate components, rabbits were injected subcutaneously in the back of the neck. The animals were boosted with 500 μg of antigen (conjugate mixed with incomplete Freund's adjuvant), at intervals of two weeks for a period of three months.

The antiserum was periodically tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), where the peptide KLH conjugate at 1 μg/μl was coated into ninety-six well microplates in coating buffer (0.1 M NaHCO₃ pH 9.0). After washing the microplate with rinse buffer (PBS, 0.1% Tween 20), different dilutions of the immune sera or control sera were added in a volume of 50-100 μl to the wells and incubated at room temperature for two hours.

The plates were washed with rinse buffer and 50 μl of goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated with alkaline phospatase in PBS and 1% BSA and 0.1% Tween 20 was added to the wells and incubated for two hours at room temperature. The microplate was washed with rinse buffer and 100 μl of substrate, p-phenyl phosphate disodium in substrate buffer was added to the wells. The microplate was incubated at room temperature for 1-2 hours and the optical density (OD) at 405 nm measured (ref. 620 nm).

The three different anti-peptide antibodies could recognize the peptide conjugate at a dilution of 1/10⁴. The antibody against peptide SEQ ID NO: 11 could also recognize the E. coli expressed recombinant human p43.

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18 1 1481 DNA Human p43 CDS (246)..(1433) 1 agaatggaca gaatactgac tggaacgtta attcgagcat ttcatatgcg aagagcggaa 60 taacagttcc gtattcttct ttcagtttct ccattagatt agcttcattt tcgaaggctc 120 cgttttgcat gcttaatttt gaaactagcc cgtggtttgg cagaatttga ctgaattcag 180 gggtgagagt ttgatccagt ccaagtgtat ttgaatttga gcacgcagtt caaccagtgt 240 ttaca atg gaa ttt ctg aag act tgt gta ctt aga aga aat gca tgc act 290 Met Glu Phe Leu Lys Thr Cys Val Leu Arg Arg Asn Ala Cys Thr 1 5 10 15 gcg gtt tgc ttc tgg aga agc aaa gtt gtc caa aag cct tca gtt aga 338 Ala Val Cys Phe Trp Arg Ser Lys Val Val Gln Lys Pro Ser Val Arg 20 25 30 agg att agt act acc tct cca agg agc act gtc atg cct gct tgg gtg 386 Arg Ile Ser Thr Thr Ser Pro Arg Ser Thr Val Met Pro Ala Trp Val 35 40 45 ata gat aaa tat ggg aag aat gaa gtg ctt cga ttc act cag aac atg 434 Ile Asp Lys Tyr Gly Lys Asn Glu Val Leu Arg Phe Thr Gln Asn Met 50 55 60 atg atg cct att ata cac tat cca aat gaa gtc att gtc aaa gtt cac 482 Met Met Pro Ile Ile His Tyr Pro Asn Glu Val Ile Val Lys Val His 65 70 75 gct gcc agt gta aat cct ata gac gtt aat atg aga agt ggt tat gga 530 Ala Ala Ser Val Asn Pro Ile Asp Val Asn Met Arg Ser Gly Tyr Gly 80 85 90 95 gct aca gct tta aat atg aag cgt gat cct tta cac gtg aaa atc aaa 578 Ala Thr Ala Leu Asn Met Lys Arg Asp Pro Leu His Val Lys Ile Lys 100 105 110 gga gaa gaa ttt cct ctg act ctg ggt cgg gat gtc tct ggc gtg gtg 626 Gly Glu Glu Phe Pro Leu Thr Leu Gly Arg Asp Val Ser Gly Val Val 115 120 125 atg gaa tgt ggg ctt gat gtg aaa tac ttc aag cct gga gat gag gtc 674 Met Glu Cys Gly Leu Asp Val Lys Tyr Phe Lys Pro Gly Asp Glu Val 130 135 140 tgg gct gca gtt cct cct tgg aaa caa ggc act ctt tca gag ttt gtt 722 Trp Ala Ala Val Pro Pro Trp Lys Gln Gly Thr Leu Ser Glu Phe Val 145 150 155 gta gtc agt ggg aat gag gtc tct cac aaa ccc aaa tca ctc act cat 770 Val Val Ser Gly Asn Glu Val Ser His Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Thr His 160 165 170 175 act caa gct gcc tct ttg cca tat gtg gct ctc aca gcc tgg tct gct 818 Thr Gln Ala Ala Ser Leu Pro Tyr Val Ala Leu Thr Ala Trp Ser Ala 180 185 190 ata aac aaa gtt ggt ggc ctg aat gac aag aat tgc aca gga aaa cgt 866 Ile Asn Lys Val Gly Gly Leu Asn Asp Lys Asn Cys Thr Gly Lys Arg 195 200 205 gtt cta atc tta ggc gct tca ggc gga gtt ggt act ttt gct ata cag 914 Val Leu Ile Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Gly Val Gly Thr Phe Ala Ile Gln 210 215 220 gta atg aaa gca tgg gat gct cat gtg aca gca gtt tgc tcc caa gat 962 Val Met Lys Ala Trp Asp Ala His Val Thr Ala Val Cys Ser Gln Asp 225 230 235 gcc agt gaa ctt gta agg aag ctt ggt gca gac gat gta att gat tac 1010 Ala Ser Glu Leu Val Arg Lys Leu Gly Ala Asp Asp Val Ile Asp Tyr 240 245 250 255 aaa tct gga agt gtg gaa gag cag ttg aaa tcc tta aaa cca ttt gat 1058 Lys Ser Gly Ser Val Glu Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Leu Lys Pro Phe Asp 260 265 270 ttt atc ctt gat aat gtt ggc gga tcc act gaa aca tgg gct cca gat 1106 Phe Ile Leu Asp Asn Val Gly Gly Ser Thr Glu Thr Trp Ala Pro Asp 275 280 285 ttt ctc aag aaa tgg tca gga gcc acc tat gtg act ttg gtg act cct 1154 Phe Leu Lys Lys Trp Ser Gly Ala Thr Tyr Val Thr Leu Val Thr Pro 290 295 300 ttc ctc ctg aac atg gac cga ttg ggc ata gca gat ggc atg ttg cag 1202 Phe Leu Leu Asn Met Asp Arg Leu Gly Ile Ala Asp Gly Met Leu Gln 305 310 315 aca gga gtc act gta ggt tca aag gca tta aag cat ttc tgg aaa gga 1250 Thr Gly Val Thr Val Gly Ser Lys Ala Leu Lys His Phe Trp Lys Gly 320 325 330 335 gtc cat tat cgc tgg gca ttt ttc atg gcc agt ggc cca tgt tta gat 1298 Val His Tyr Arg Trp Ala Phe Phe Met Ala Ser Gly Pro Cys Leu Asp 340 345 350 gac att gca gaa ctg gtg gat gcg gga aag atc cgg cca gtt att gaa 1346 Asp Ile Ala Glu Leu Val Asp Ala Gly Lys Ile Arg Pro Val Ile Glu 355 360 365 caa acc ttt cct ttt tct aaa gtt cca gaa gcc ttc ctg aag gtg gaa 1394 Gln Thr Phe Pro Phe Ser Lys Val Pro Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Val Glu 370 375 380 aga gga cac gca cga gga aag act gta att aat gtt gtt taaataaaaa 1443 Arg Gly His Ala Arg Gly Lys Thr Val Ile Asn Val Val 385 390 395 tgcagtttag tgattaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 1481 2 396 PRT Human p43 2 Met Glu Phe Leu Lys Thr Cys Val Leu Arg Arg Asn Ala Cys Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Cys Phe Trp Arg Ser Lys Val Val Gln Lys Pro Ser Val Arg Arg 20 25 30 Ile Ser Thr Thr Ser Pro Arg Ser Thr Val Met Pro Ala Trp Val Ile 35 40 45 Asp Lys Tyr Gly Lys Asn Glu Val Leu Arg Phe Thr Gln Asn Met Met 50 55 60 Met Pro Ile Ile His Tyr Pro Asn Glu Val Ile Val Lys Val His Ala 65 70 75 80 Ala Ser Val Asn Pro Ile Asp Val Asn Met Arg Ser Gly Tyr Gly Ala 85 90 95 Thr Ala Leu Asn Met Lys Arg Asp Pro Leu His Val Lys Ile Lys Gly 100 105 110 Glu Glu Phe Pro Leu Thr Leu Gly Arg Asp Val Ser Gly Val Val Met 115 120 125 Glu Cys Gly Leu Asp Val Lys Tyr Phe Lys Pro Gly Asp Glu Val Trp 130 135 140 Ala Ala Val Pro Pro Trp Lys Gln Gly Thr Leu Ser Glu Phe Val Val 145 150 155 160 Val Ser Gly Asn Glu Val Ser His Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Thr His Thr 165 170 175 Gln Ala Ala Ser Leu Pro Tyr Val Ala Leu Thr Ala Trp Ser Ala Ile 180 185 190 Asn Lys Val Gly Gly Leu Asn Asp Lys Asn Cys Thr Gly Lys Arg Val 195 200 205 Leu Ile Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Gly Val Gly Thr Phe Ala Ile Gln Val 210 215 220 Met Lys Ala Trp Asp Ala His Val Thr Ala Val Cys Ser Gln Asp Ala 225 230 235 240 Ser Glu Leu Val Arg Lys Leu Gly Ala Asp Asp Val Ile Asp Tyr Lys 245 250 255 Ser Gly Ser Val Glu Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Leu Lys Pro Phe Asp Phe 260 265 270 Ile Leu Asp Asn Val Gly Gly Ser Thr Glu Thr Trp Ala Pro Asp Phe 275 280 285 Leu Lys Lys Trp Ser Gly Ala Thr Tyr Val Thr Leu Val Thr Pro Phe 290 295 300 Leu Leu Asn Met Asp Arg Leu Gly Ile Ala Asp Gly Met Leu Gln Thr 305 310 315 320 Gly Val Thr Val Gly Ser Lys Ala Leu Lys His Phe Trp Lys Gly Val 325 330 335 His Tyr Arg Trp Ala Phe Phe Met Ala Ser Gly Pro Cys Leu Asp Asp 340 345 350 Ile Ala Glu Leu Val Asp Ala Gly Lys Ile Arg Pro Val Ile Glu Gln 355 360 365 Thr Phe Pro Phe Ser Lys Val Pro Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Val Glu Arg 370 375 380 Gly His Ala Arg Gly Lys Thr Val Ile Asn Val Val 385 390 395 3 396 PRT Human p43 3 Met Glu Phe Leu Lys Thr Cys Val Leu Arg Arg Asn Ala Cys Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Cys Phe Trp Arg Ser Lys Val Val Gln Lys Pro Ser Val Arg Arg 20 25 30 Ile Ser Thr Thr Ser Pro Arg Ser Thr Val Met Pro Ala Trp Val Ile 35 40 45 Asp Lys Tyr Gly Lys Asn Glu Val Leu Arg Phe Thr Gln Asn Met Met 50 55 60 Met Pro Ile Ile His Tyr Pro Asn Glu Val Ile Val Lys Val His Ala 65 70 75 80 Ala Ser Val Asn Pro Ile Asp Val Asn Met Arg Ser Gly Tyr Gly Ala 85 90 95 Thr Ala Leu Asn Met Lys Arg Asp Pro Leu His Val Lys Ile Lys Gly 100 105 110 Glu Glu Phe Pro Leu Thr Leu Gly Arg Asp Val Ser Gly Val Val Met 115 120 125 Glu Cys Gly Leu Asp Val Lys Tyr Phe Lys Pro Gly Asp Glu Val Trp 130 135 140 Ala Ala Val Pro Pro Trp Lys Gln Gly Thr Leu Ser Glu Phe Val Val 145 150 155 160 Val Ser Gly Asn Glu Val Ser His Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Thr His Thr 165 170 175 Gln Ala Ala Ser Leu Pro Tyr Val Ala Leu Thr Ala Trp Ser Ala Ile 180 185 190 Asn Lys Val Gly Gly Leu Asn Asp Lys Asn Cys Thr Gly Lys Arg Val 195 200 205 Leu Ile Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Gly Val Gly Thr Phe Ala Ile Gln Val 210 215 220 Met Lys Ala Trp Asp Ala His Val Thr Ala Val Cys Ser Gln Asp Ala 225 230 235 240 Ser Glu Leu Val Arg Lys Leu Gly Ala Asp Asp Val Ile Asp Tyr Lys 245 250 255 Ser Gly Ser Val Glu Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Leu Lys Pro Phe Asp Phe 260 265 270 Ile Leu Asp Asn Val Gly Gly Ser Thr Glu Thr Trp Ala Pro Asp Phe 275 280 285 Leu Lys Lys Trp Ser Gly Ala Thr Tyr Val Thr Leu Val Thr Pro Phe 290 295 300 Leu Leu Asn Met Asp Arg Leu Gly Ile Ala Asp Gly Met Leu Gln Thr 305 310 315 320 Gly Val Thr Val Gly Ser Lys Ala Leu Lys His Phe Trp Lys Gly Val 325 330 335 His Tyr Arg Trp Ala Phe Phe Met Ala Ser Gly Pro Cys Leu Asp Asp 340 345 350 Ile Ala Glu Leu Val Asp Ala Gly Lys Ile Arg Pro Val Ile Glu Gln 355 360 365 Thr Phe Pro Phe Ser Lys Val Pro Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Val Glu Arg 370 375 380 Gly His Ala Arg Gly Lys Thr Val Ile Asn Val Val 385 390 395 4 396 PRT Mouse p43 4 Met Gly Val Leu Lys Thr Cys Val Leu Arg Arg Ser Ala Cys Ala Ala 1 5 10 15 Ala Cys Phe Trp Arg Arg Thr Val Ile Pro Lys Pro Pro Phe Arg Gly 20 25 30 Ile Ser Thr Thr Ser Ala Arg Ser Thr Val Met Pro Ala Trp Val Ile 35 40 45 Asp Lys Tyr Gly Lys Asn Glu Val Leu Arg Phe Thr Gln Asn Met Met 50 55 60 Leu Pro Ile Ile His Tyr Pro Asn Glu Val Ile Ile Lys Val His Ala 65 70 75 80 Ala Ser Val Asn Pro Ile Asp Val Asn Met Arg Ser Gly Tyr Gly Ala 85 90 95 Thr Ala Leu Asn Met Lys Arg Asp Pro Leu His Met Lys Thr Lys Gly 100 105 110 Glu Glu Phe Pro Leu Thr Leu Gly Arg Asp Val Ser Gly Val Val Met 115 120 125 Glu Cys Gly Leu Asp Val Lys Tyr Phe Gln Pro Gly Asp Glu Val Trp 130 135 140 Ala Ala Val Pro Pro Trp Lys Gln Gly Thr Leu Ser Glu Phe Val Val 145 150 155 160 Val Ser Gly Asn Glu Val Ser His Lys Pro Lys Ser Leu Thr His Thr 165 170 175 Gln Ala Ala Ser Leu Pro Tyr Val Ala Leu Thr Ala Trp Ser Ala Ile 180 185 190 Asn Lys Val Gly Gly Leu Ser Asp Arg Asn Cys Lys Gly Lys Arg Ala 195 200 205 Leu Ile Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Gly Val Gly Thr Phe Ala Ile Gln Val 210 215 220 Met Lys Ala Trp Gly Ala His Val Thr Ala Val Cys Ser Lys Asp Ala 225 230 235 240 Ser Glu Leu Val Arg Lys Leu Gly Ala Asp Glu Val Ile Asp Tyr Thr 245 250 255 Leu Gly Ser Val Glu Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Leu Lys Leu Cys Ala Phe 260 265 270 Ile Leu Asp Asn Val Gly Gly Ser Thr Glu Thr Trp Ala Leu Asn Phe 275 280 285 Leu Lys Lys Trp Ser Gly Ala Thr Tyr Val Thr Leu Val Thr Pro Phe 290 295 300 Leu Leu Asn Met Asp Arg Leu Gly Val Ala Asp Gly Met Leu Gln Thr 305 310 315 320 Gly Val Thr Val Gly Thr Lys Ala Met Lys His Leu Trp Gln Gly Val 325 330 335 His Tyr Arg Trp Ala Phe Phe Met Ala Ser Gly Pro Tyr Leu Asp Glu 340 345 350 Ile Ala Glu Leu Val Asp Ala Gly Lys Ile Arg Pro Val Ile Glu Arg 355 360 365 Thr Phe Pro Phe Ser Glu Val Pro Glu Ala Phe Leu Lys Val Glu Arg 370 375 380 Gly His Ala Arg Gly Lys Thr Val Val Asn Val Val 385 390 395 5 30 DNA Oligonucleotide Primer 5 atttcccggg ggaacggacg atgccccgaa 30 6 30 DNA Oligonucleotide Primer 6 cttctgtcga cggattgggg ttcaggtttc 30 7 20 DNA Oligonucleotide Primer 7 caggatgggc gttttgaaga 20 8 20 DNA Oligonucleotide Primer 8 gtcttcaaaa cgcccatcct 20 9 1188 DNA Human p43 cDNA 9 atggaatttc tgaagacttg tgtacttaga agaaatgcat gcactgcggt ttgcttctgg 60 agaagcaaag ttgtccaaaa gccttcagtt agaaggatta gtactacctc tccaaggagc 120 actgtcatgc ctgcttgggt gatagataaa tatgggaaga atgaagtgct tcgattcact 180 cagaacatga tgatgcctat tatacactat ccaaatgaag tcattgtcaa agttcacgct 240 gccagtgtaa atcctataga cgttaatatg agaagtggtt atggagctac agctttaaat 300 atgaagcgtg atcctttaca cgtgaaaatc aaaggagaag aatttcctct gactctgggt 360 cgggatgtct ctggcgtggt gatggaatgt gggcttgatg tgaaatactt caagcctgga 420 gatgaggtct gggctgcagt tcctccttgg aaacaaggca ctctttcaga gtttgttgta 480 gtcagtggga atgaggtctc tcacaaaccc aaatcactca ctcatactca agctgcctct 540 ttgccatatg tggctctcac agcctggtct gctataaaca aagttggtgg cctgaatgac 600 aagaattgca caggaaaacg tgttctaatc ttaggcgctt caggcggagt tggtactttt 660 gctatacagg taatgaaagc atgggatgct catgtgacag cagtttgctc ccaagatgcc 720 agtgaacttg taaggaagct tggtgcagac gatgtaattg attacaaatc tggaagtgtg 780 gaagagcagt tgaaatcctt aaaaccattt gattttatcc ttgataatgt tggcggatcc 840 actgaaacat gggctccaga ttttctcaag aaatggtcag gagccaccta tgtgactttg 900 gtgactcctt tcctcctgaa catggaccga ttgggcatag cagatggcat gttgcagaca 960 ggagtcactg taggttcaaa ggcattaaag catttctgga aaggagtcca ttatcgctgg 1020 gcatttttca tggccagtgg cccatgttta gatgacattg cagaactggt ggatgcggga 1080 aagatccggc cagttattga acaaaccttt cctttttcta aagttccaga agccttcctg 1140 aaggtggaaa gaggacacgc acgaggaaag actgtaatta atgttgtt 1188 10 20 PRT Synthetic Amino Acid Motif 10 Cys Lys Val Val Gln Lys Pro Ser Val Arg Arg Ile Ser Thr Thr Ser 1 5 10 15 Pro Arg Ser Thr 20 11 20 PRT Synthetic Amino Acid Motif 11 Cys Tyr Lys Ser Gly Ser Val Glu Glu Gln Leu Lys Ser Leu Lys Pro 1 5 10 15 Phe Asp Phe Ile 20 12 20 PRT Synthetic Amino Acid Motif 12 Cys Gly Gly Ser Thr Glu Thr Trp Ala Pro Asp Phe Leu Lys Lys Trp 1 5 10 15 Ser Gly Ala Thr 20 13 30 PRT Alcohol Dehydrogenase 13 Thr Cys Ala Val Phe Gly Leu Gly Gly Val Gly Leu Ser Val Ile Met 1 5 10 15 Gly Cys Lys Ala Ala Gly Ala Ala Arg Ile Ile Gly Val Asp 20 25 30 14 31 PRT Lactate Dehydrogenase 14 Lys Ile Thr Val Val Gly Val Gly Ala Val Gly Met Ala Cys Ala Ile 1 5 10 15 Ser Ile Leu Met Lys Asp Leu Ala Asp Glu Val Ala Leu Val Asp 20 25 30 15 29 PRT Glyceraldehydephosphate Dehydrogenase 15 Lys Val Cys Ile Val Gly Ser Gly Asp Trp Gly Ser Ala Ile Ala Lys 1 5 10 15 Ile Val Gly Gly Asn Ala Ala Gln Leu Ala Gln Phe Asp 20 25 16 33 PRT Human p43 16 Arg Val Leu Ile Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Gly Val Gly Thr Phe Ala Ile 1 5 10 15 Gln Val Met Lys Ala Trp Asp Ala His Val Thr Ala Val Cys Ser Gln 20 25 30 Asp 17 33 PRT Mouse p43 17 Arg Ala Leu Ile Leu Gly Ala Ser Gly Gly Val Gly Thr Phe Ala Ile 1 5 10 15 Gln Val Met Lys Ala Trp Gly Ala His Val Thr Ala Val Cys Ser Lys 20 25 30 Asp 18 5 PRT Conserved Amino Acid Motif WS Motif 18 Trp Ser Xaa Trp Ser 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 or SEQ ID NO:4.
 2. An isolated polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 3. An isolated polypeptide, comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO:
 4. 4. A vector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 5. The vector of claim 4, said vector being an expression vector.
 6. A host cell comprising the vector of claim
 5. 7. A method of producing the polypeptide of claim 2, comprising the steps of (a) cultivating a host cell transformed, transduced or transfected with said nucleic acid molecule, under conditions where said polypeptide is expressed by said host cell; and (b) isolating said polypeptide.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said host cell is an E. coli cell.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said host cell is a mammalian cell.
 10. The host cell of claim 9, which is a COS cell.
 11. A composition comprising the isolated polypeptide of claim 2 and an acceptable carrier.
 12. A composition comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1 and an acceptable carrier. 